Heel supporting device for a ski safety binding



Sept. 22, 1970 R. vOsTER EI'AL 3,529,846

HEEL SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR A SKI SAFETY BINDING Original Filed Dec. 20, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Raw/aw ubs ree 5. G E N SCI/HELL BY 'd k ATTORNEYS Sept. 22, 1970 R. VGSTER ETAL 3,529,846

HEEL SUPPORTING DEVICE FOR A SKI SAFETY BINDING I Original Filed Dec. 20, 1966 5 shets sh'eet s INVENTORS Rem/flow I/hTeR euszlv sellNELL BY 4M4,

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Int. Cl. A63c 9/08 US. Cl. 28011.35 45 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A heel-supporting device which forms a part of a ski safety binding that automatically opens when the skier falls forwardly. The heel-supporting device includes a heel-holding element depressing the heel of a ski boot upon the ski while the heel-holding element is pivotal about an axis extending transversely to the ski and is longitudinally movable to a limited extent; a first resilient spring presses the heel-holding element in the forward direction while bracing means are connected thereto which are movable with the heel-holding element in the longitudinal direction. The heel-holding element is also under the influence of a toggle mechanism, itself under the influence of a second resilient means in such a manner that only in the presence of a pre-deterrnincd upward lifting force, the toggle mechanism is displaced beyond its dead-center position so that the second resilient means, previously opposing lifting of the heel-holding element, now acts to assist the opening of the heel-holding element.

This is a continuation of Ser. No. 603,273 filed Dec. 20, 1966, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a heel supporting device which forms a part of a ski safety binding which is adapted to open automatically when the skier falls forwardly and comprises a lever system which connects a heel holding element to the ski and normally presses this element by means of a depressing spring against the ski, but is moved upwardly beyond a dead-center position so as to release the heel of the ski boot when strong upwardly directed forces occur.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a heel supprting device which causes the ski boot to be tightly clamped automatically when the heel holding element is depressed and also insures that the ski binding will always release the boot in the event of a forward fall of the skier. It is a further object of the invention to design this heel supporting device so as to be of a compact construction in which the movable parts of the device are preferably provided within a heel holding and depressing element in the form of a casing which is located behind the heel of the ski boot and presses the heel against the ski.

It is an important feature of the invention that the lever system which connects the heel-holding element to the ski comprises a bracing device for the heel holding element which is movable by spring action in the forward direction of the ski. This bracing device preferably comprises a pair of bracing arms which are pivotably connected so as to be disposed at an upwardly pointing V- shaped angle to each other. One of these arms is pivotably connected to the ski and the other arm to the heel holding element. The lever system further comprises a pair of toggle arms which are pivotably connected to each other and one of which is pivotably connected to the heel holding element, while the other toggle arm is 3,529,846 Patented Sept. 22, 1970 pivotably connected to the bracing device and preferably to the pair of bracing arms either at or near the pivot connecting these arms which is acted upon in such a manner by the heel depressing spring that, when the heel holding element moves upwardly, the toggle arm which is pivotably connected to the heel holding element will be moved to a point beyond a dead-center position relative to the heel depressing spring.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very practical, safe and efficient heel supporting device which complies with all of the requirements for attaining an automatic release of the boot heel in the event that excessive stresses are exerted upon the ski binding, for example, by a forward fall of the skier, and in which the various arms or levers and springs of this device are combined within a small area laterally adjacent and above each other so as to permit them to be enclosed within a small casing which also forms the heel holding element and may be made of a height substantially equal to the thickness of the boot heel.

It is one of the conditions with which the heel supporting device according to the invention must comply that the heel depressing spring must be relatively hard and strong so as to press the heel firmly upon the ski. On the other hand, in order to permit the ski binding to be easily connected and tightened on the boot and also to be easily released and removed from the boot, it is necessary to pivot the heel holding element upwardly against the action of the heel depressing spring which, however, would normally require a very strong force since it would have to occur against the full force of the heel depressing spring. In order to facilitate the operation of applying the ski binding easily upon a ski boot and of releasing it easily therefrom, it is another feature of the invention to provide the heel holding device with one or more releasing arms which are adapted to act upon the pair of toggle arms, for example, by pivoting these arms relative to each other, so as to permit the heel holding element to be pivoted upwardly against the action of the heel depressing spring. For this purpose, the releasing arm or arms are preferably provided at one end with an actuating lever which is pivotably mounted at the pivot point of the heel holding element on the ski, while the other end of the releasing arm is connected, for example, to the pivot which connects the two toggle arms to each other.

When the actuating lever is pivoted downwardly, for example, by means of a ski pole, so as to release the heel holding device, the two toggle arms, which under the action of the heel depressing spring tend to be spread apart and thereby exert a very strong depressing force upon the heel holding element, may be pivoted by means of a relatively small force toward each other. This pivoting movement of the two toggle arms will then at the same time cause the heel holding element to be pivoted upwardly. The releasing arm and the heel depressing spring are for this purpose preferably connected in such a manner to the heel holding element and the pair of toggle arms that, when the releasing arm is actuated, the heel depressing spring, will produce and exert a torque upon the heel holding element which tends to lift the latter and presses the heel holding element together with the toggle arm which is pivotably connected thereto in the upward direction beyond the dead-center position of the toggle arms and to its upper end position in which the heel is fully released from the heel holding element. During this releasing movement the mentioned toggle arm at first passes beyond a dead-center position relative to the heel depressing spring and then a dead-center position relative to the releasing arm so that, when by depressing the release lever the two toggle arms are pivoted, the heel depressing spring will exert a torque upon the heel holding element which moves the latter in the upward direction and thereby to a level above the dead-center positions of the toggle arms and to its highest possible position in which the heel of the ski boot may be easily inserted into or lifted out of the heel supporting device.

The heel supporting device according to the invention may, however, also be of a construction different from that as previously described. Thus, for example, a similar effect may also be attained by providing other lever systems, for example, by providing the toggle arm which is connected to the heel holding element with an extension which extends beyond the pivot which connects this arm to the other toggle arm and is preferably disposed at an angle thereto in the direction toward the ski, and by connecting the heel depressing spring to the end of this extension.

Further objects and features of the present invention concern a very advantageous and compact construction and arrangement of the different arms of the lever system, the springs, the heel-holding element in the form of a casing and the means for pivotably mounting it on the ski, and of a device which permits the spring pressure of the depressing spring to be adjusted and to be visibly indicated. All of the afore-mentioned as well as additional features of the invention will become more clearly apparent from the following detailed description thereof, which is to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic illustration of a heel supporting device according to the invention in the tightened condition for skiing;

FIG. 2 shows a similar view of the device in a partly released condition;

FIG. 3 shows a similar view of the device in the fully released condition when it is pivoted upwardly above the dead-center position and the binding is released from the boot;

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal section of an actual construction of a heel-supporting device according to the invention, this section being taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the device according to FIG. 4, partly in a cross section which is taken along the line 55 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows a rear view of the device according to FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the device according to FIG. 4, partly in a cross section which is taken along the line 7-7 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 shows a cross section which is taken along the line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a diagrammatic side view of a modification of the device according to FIGS. 1 to 3; while FIG. 10 shows a diagrammatic side View of a further modification of the device according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

As illustrated diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 to 3, a heel holding element 12 in the form of a casing which is adapted to grip the heel 11 of a ski boot is pivotably mounted on the ski 10. This element 12 is provided on its front end with a projection 13 on which the heel is adapted to rest and with a heel-depressing yoke 14 which is preferably adjustable to different levels on the heel holding element 12 and presses upon the upper rim of the heel when it is in the normal skiing position as shown in FIG. 1.

For mounting the heel holding element on the ski, a bearing bracket 15 is provided which is secured to the ski and has a longitudinal slot 16 therein in which the heel holding element 12 is mounted by means of a pivot pin 17 so as to be pivotable relative to the ski and to be slidable within the limits of this slot in the longitudinal direction of the ski. This pivot pin 17 also forms the bearing member of a bracing arm 18 which is connected by a pivot 19 to a further bracing arm 20 which, in turn, is pivotably mounted by a pivot 21 on a bearing bracket 22 which is secured to the ski. The two bracing arms 18 and 20 are disposed at a V-shaped angle to each other with the apex of the V pointing upwardly, and the pivot pin 17 is located near the rear end and the pivot 22 near the front end of the heel holding element 12. While the bracing arm 20 extends substantially vertically to the ski, the other bracing arm 18 extends substantially diagonally and upwardly within the casinglike heel holding element 12 to its pivotal connection 19 with the bracing arm 18.

The two bracing arms 18 and 20 are further pivotably connected preferably by the pivot 19 to a pair of toggle arms 23, 24. The toggle arm 23 is pivotably connected by a pivot 25 to the other toggle arm 24 which, in turn, is connected by a pivot 26 to the heel holding element 12.

A spring 27 which preferably forms a tension spring and is connected, for example, to the pivots 17 and 21 connects the heel holding element 12 resiliently to the ski 10 and tends to draw this element 12 forwardly relative to the ski in the direction of the arrow x. By means of the heel 11, the ski boot will in this manner be pressed forwardly, for example, against a toe supporting device, not shown, which is preferably designed so as to release the toe portion of the boot when strong lateral twisting forces are exerted by or upon the foot, for example, by toe clamping jaws then being pivoted laterally against the action of spring means which tend to maintain the toe supporting device in a central position.

The pivot 25 between the two toggle arms 23 and 24 is further resiliently connected to the heel holding element 12 by a heel depressing spring 28, preferably a compression spring, one end of which is connected to a spring support 29 on pivot 25, while its other end is connected to a spring support 30 which may be provided for example, on one end of a setscrew 31 which is adjustably mounted on the rear wall of the casinglike heel holding element 12. Spring 28 tends to pivot the pair of toggle arms 23 and 24 forwardly, relative to each other, but by providing these arms with suitable stops, not shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, they will be prevented from pivoting, for example, beyond the position as indicated in FIG. 1. Thus, when the heel holding element 12 is in its normal operative position, the two toggle arms 23 and 24 will be substantially in the position as shown in FIG. 1.

The two toggle arms 23 and 24 are further pivotably connected, preferably likewise on the pivot 25, to one end of a releasing arm 32 the other end of which is provided with a longitudinal slot 33 through which a pivot pin 34 on a release lever 35 extends which is pivotably mounted on the ski at the rear part of the heel holding element 12, for example, on the pivot pin 17 of the latter. By means of an actuating arm 36 on lever 35, the latter may be pivoted against spring action about the pivot pin 17 in the direction of the arrow z.

In FIG. 1, the heel supporting device according to the invention is illustrated in its normal operative position in which the heel holding element 12 is pressed forwardly and downwardly by the resultant of the forces of springs 27 and 28 which are acting thereon. The heel depressing spring 28 then presses the heel holding element 12 and the heel holding bracket 14 thereon downwardly upon the heel 11 and thereby presses the heel against the ski 10, while the tension spring 27 presses the heel holding element 12 forwardly against the heel 11 and thereby presses the ski boot forwardly against the toe supporting device. The heel depressing spring 28 then tends to pivot the two toggle arms 23 and 24 toward a straight position in alignment with each other and the depressing force is transmitted through the pivot 26 to the heel holding ele ment 12 and thus to the heel of the boot at a transmission ratio which is determined by the nearly straight position of the two toggle arms 23 and 24.

If, for example, due to a fall of the skier, an upwardly directed force occurs on the heel of the ski boot, as indicated by the arrow P in FIG. 1, this force will be transmitted from the heel holding element 12 to the pivot 26 and thus to the pair of toggle arms 23 and 24 with the result that the pivot 26 will tend to swing upwardly, while pivot will tend to swing toward the rear about the piovt 19 which is possible because the two toggle arms 23 and 24 are not entirely in straight alignment with each other but are held by the mentioned stops in a certain angular position relative to each other. As the result of the rearward movement of pivot 25, spring 28 is tightened and thereby produces a strong pressure which opposes any tendency of the heel 11 to be lifted off the ski and normally presses the heel back upon the ski. The release lever 35 remains normally unaifected by this movement of pivot 25 since due to the longitudinal slot 33 the arm 32 which is moved together with pivot 25 can move freely for a certain distance relative to the pivot 34 on lever 35 in accordance with the length of slot 33.

If, however, for example, due to a fall of the skier, the froce P exceeds a certain value so that the pivot 26 is moved to a position above the axis of spring 28 and thus above the dead-center position relative to this spring, a torque will be exerted by spring 28 upon the toggle arms 23 and 24 which tends to lift the pivot 26 further upwardly and thereby tends to pivot the heel holding element 12 upwardly about its pivot 17 so as to release the heel 11 of the ski boot.

For inserting the boot into the ski binding, the skier presses his heel upon the heel rest 13 and thereby pivots the heel holding element 12 downwardly from the position as shown in FIG. 3 and beyond the mentioned deadcenter position to the position as shown in FIG. 1.

If the skier while standing still wishes to release the binding from his boot, that is, at a time when no force P acts upon the heel to lift it off the ski, by releasing the toggle arms 23 and 24 from the pressure of spring 28, he may press the arm 35 which projects toward the rear of the release lever 35 downwardly in the direction of the arrow z, for example by means of one of his ski poles. The release lever 35 then takes along the arm 32 and thereby pulls the pivot 25 in an arcuate direction about the upper pivot 19 toward the rear against the action of the heel depressing spring 28 which is thereby further tightened and then exerts through the spring support 30 a force upon the heel holding element 12 which tends to pivot the latter about the pivot 17 in the direction of the arrow 2. The toggle arm 23 then acts upon the pivot 19 which connects the two arms 18 and 20 to each other, and the movement of arm 23 about the pivot 19 then causes the pivot 26 which connects the toggle arm 24 to the heel holding element 12, and thus also this element itself to be pivoted upwardly in the direction of the arrow y so as to release the heel 11. When the mechanism is in the position as shown in FIG. 2, toggle arm 24 is located in its dead-center position relative to the release arm 32 so that a further movement of lever 35 cannot cause the pivot 26 to be further lifted. However, the torque which is exerted by the spring force F in the direction of the arrow z relative to the pivot 17 continues to act in the opening direction and causes the heel holding element 12 to be further pivoted in the direction of the arrow y and also the toggle arm 24 together with the pivot 26 to be moved above the dead-center position. When the heel holding element 12 is pivoted upwardly as far as possible, it is located, for example, in the position as shown in FIG. 3 in which the skier can easily lift his heel out of this element. Suitable stops, for example, between the toggle arms 23 and 24, may be provided for limiting the movement of the heel holding element 12 in the direction of the arrow y.

While FIGS. 1 to 3 are primarily intended to illustrate diagrammatically the functions of the individual parts of the heel supporting device according to the invention, FIGS. 4 to 8 illustrate a preferred embodiment of this device. The individual parts of the device are designated in FIGS. 4 to 8 by the same reference numerals as applied in FIGS. 1 to 3, except that they are increased by 100. A base plate 137 is secured to the upper side of the ski 10 by screws 138 which extend through longitudinal slots 139 in both sides of the base plate. The lateral sides of base plate 137 are covered by the two arms of a bifurcated cover plate 140 which are provided with cylindrical bores 141 through which the above-mentioned screws 138 are inserted. The longitudinal slots 139 which are always covered by the two arms of cover plate 140 permit the base plate 137 to be shifted in the longitudinal direction of the ski and relative to the ski and also relative to the cover plate 140 which by means of the screws 138 is secured in a fixed position on the ski. However, in order to prevent the base plate 137 and thus also the heel-holding element 112 from shifting unintentionally relative to the ski, the surfaces of plates 137 and 140 which engage upon each other may be provided with corresponding transverse serrations or grooves 140a, as indicated in FIGS. 5 and 6.

As indicated particularly in FIG. 6, base plate 137 carries a U-shaped bearing bracket 115 which is preferably welded or rigidly screwed thereto and provided not only with the elongated slots 116 in which the pivot pin 117 for the casinglike heel-holding element 112 including its walls 112a, 112b, 1120, and 112d is mounted, but also with the bores for the pivot pins 112. One end of spring 127 is hooked over the pivot pin 117 and its other end over the pivot pin 121. One pair of toggle arms 118, 120 and the connecting pivot 119 thereof is provided on each side of the longitudinal central plane of the ski. This also applies to a pair of release arms 132 each of which connects one of the arms of a bifurcated release lever 135 which is mounted on the pivot pin 117 to the pair of toggle arms 123 and 124 by being provided at one end with a longitudinal slot 133 in which a pivot pin 134 on the arm of lever 135 is slidable and pivotable,

while its other end is connected to the pivot pin which connects the two toggle arms 123 and 124 to each other. In the particular embodiment of the invention as illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 8, one of the toggle arms is provided in the form of a pair of arms 123, while the other arm 124 is provided in the form of a single, relatively wide arm which extends across the center of the ski.

Each toggle arm 123 is provided with a stop projecttion 142 which is adapted to abut against the pivot pin 126 which connects the other toggle arm 124 to the casinglike heel holding element 112 so as to determine the maximum angle to which the two arms 123 and 124 may be pivoted relative to each other and to prevent these arms from being pivoted to a position in which they are in straight alignment with each other. A further stop surface 143 on each toggle arm 123 is adapted to abut against the pivot pin 126 so as to determine the minimum angles to which the two arms 123 and 124 are pivotable relative to each other to a position substantially as shown in FIG. 3.

One end of spring 128 acts upon a spring support on the heel holding element 112, while its other end acts upon a spring support 129 which is pivotably connected to the pair of toggle arms '123, 124 by means of a pivot pin 145 which is mounted on the toggle arm 123 and laterally offset relative to the pivot pin 125. In order to permit the casing forming the heel holding element 112 to be made as small as possible, springs 127 and 128 are mounted as closely as possible above each other.

The spring support 130 is adjustable in its longitudinal direction by means of a setscrew 131 which has a head 131a which when turned permits the tension of spring 128 to be varied. This spring support 130 is further provided with an arm 146 (FIGS. 4 and 7) which engages by means of projections '148 between projecting parts 147 on the arms 118 and is thereby prevented from turning about the axis of spring 128 and setscrew 131.

These projections 148 on arm 146 are connected to a thin indicating arm 149 of steel which is provided near one end with recesses 150, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, into which the projections 148 engage. The indicating arm 149 is further provided near its other end with an indicat ing knob 151 which is slidable within a longitudinal slot 152 in the upper wall 112d of the heel holding element 112.

For varying the tension of the heel depressing spring 128, setscrew 131 may be turned about its axis by means of its head 131a, whereby the spring support 130 which is prevented from turning by the arm 146 and the projections 148 thereon is moved along the thread of the setscrew either in one or the other direction of the double arrow u u When such an adjustment is being made, the indicating arm 149 is also taken along in either direction of the double arrow u M2, whereby the indicating knob 151 is moved along the slot 152 in either direction of the double arrow v v The differences in the movements between the spring support 130 and the indicating knob 151 which are due to the fact that they do not occur in exactly parallel directions are taken up by the resilience of the indicating arm which is made of spring steel. The tension of spring 128 may be indicated by the knob 151 by providing a scale 153 on the outer side of the upper wall 112d adjacent to the longitudinal slot 152, as shown in FIG. 7.

As already stated in connection with the diagrammatic illustrations according to FIGS. 1 to 3, the heel holding element 112 forms a casing which surrounds the internal parts of the device and is for this purpose made of an inverted U-shaped cross section with downwardly projecting arms or side walls 112a in which the pivot pins 117 and 126 are mounted. Since the gap between the side walls 112a of the heel-holding element 112 and the base plate 137 or the cover plate 140 would increase and form lateral openings when the heel holding element 112 is pivoted upwardly about the pivot pin 117, the two arms 115a of the bearing bracket 115 extend upwardly for a considerable distance, as indicated especially in FIG. 4, and are in close contact with the side walls 112a of the heel holding element 112, as shown especially in FIG. 6, so that even when this element 112 pivots upwardly, the inner parts of the device are tightly enclosed substantially on all sides. The back wall 112k of the heel holding element 112 is provided with an opening 154 and with slots 155 through which the actuating arms 136 of the release lever 135 project to the outside. The central part of the opening 154 between the two arms 136 may, if desired, be covered by a plate 156 which may consist, for example, of plastic and may be firmly secured to the heel holding element 112 or to the bearing bracket 115, for example, by being glued thereto.

In order to permit the heel-depressing yoke 114 to be adjusted to different levels relative to the ski, it is provided with lateral serrations 157 (FIG. which interengage with corresponding serrations 158 on a cover plate 159 which is secured to the front wall 1120 of the casing forming the heel holding element 112, for example, by being Welded thereto. This cover plate 159 preferably also carries the heel rest 113 which may, for example, be integral therewith. The heel depressing yoke 114 may be secured in the particular position to which it is adjusted by means of a screw 160 which is screwed into a nut 161 which is inserted into a slot 162 in plate 159.

The mode of operation of the device according to FIGS. 4 to 8 is generally the same as that which has been described with reference to the diagrammatic illustrations according to FIGS. 1 to 3. For releasing the heel holding element 112 from the downwardly directed pressure of the heel depressing spring 128, the release lever 135 is to be pivoted downwardly to the position 135, as indicated in FIG. 4 in dot-and-dash lines. The heel holding element 112 is thereby pivoted upwardly by means of the releasing arm 132 and the pair of toggle arms 123, 124 with the assistance of the heel depressing spring 128 which acts upon the spring support 130. The upper end position of the heel holding element 112 including the heel-depressing yoke 114 and the heel rest 113, which is determined, for example, by the stop projections 143 and 126 is indicated in FIG. 4 by the dotand-dash lines 112, 114', and 113.

FIG. 9 illustrates a modification of the device as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The toggle arm 24 is in this case provided with an extension 24a beyond the pivot 25, and the heel depressing spring 28 acts upon a spring support 29a which is pivotally mounted on a pivot 45 on the end of this extension 24a. By this modification of the device the result is attained that, when the heel holding element 12 pivots upwardly and pivot 26 moves to a deadcenter position relative to the releasing arm 32, that is, approximately to the position 26' of pivot 26, pivot 45 is pivoted about the pivot 25 to a lower position 45, so that the heel depressing spring 28 when in its position 28 will exert a releasing force M directly within the pivot joint 26 which has the tendency to release the heel holding element 12 and thereby to pivot the latter upwardly beyond the dead-center position to its upper end position.

If desired, the pair of toggle arms 20, 18 may also be replaced by a different device which will carry out the purpose of the toggle arms in a similar manner. Thus, for example, the pair of toggle arms may be replaced by a slide member which is mounted so as to be movable in the longitudinal direction of the ski and is drawn or pressed forwardly by a spring corresponding to spring 27. The heel holding element 12 should then be pivotably mounted on a pivot 17 on the slide member, While the pair of toggle arms should be pivotably mounted on the slide member by means of a pivot 19 and be pivotably connected to the heel holding element by means of a pivot 26.

The bracing arm 20 may also be replaced, for example, by a guide member which is rigidly secured to the ski and provided with a horizontal or curved slot in which the pivot 19 is slidable.

A further embodiment of the invention similar to that as above described is illustrated in FIG. 10. The bracing arm 20 is in this case omitted and the pair of toggle arms 223, 224 is provided in a V-shaped arrangement with its apex pointing upwardly and having a common pivot 225. When the heel holding element 12 is depressed, pivot 219 between the toggle arm 223 and the bracing arm 218 is located near the pivot point 226 of the toggle arm 224 on the heel holding element and it is guided, for example, in a longitudinal slot 220 which is provided in a bracket on the ski near the upper surface of the latter. In all other respects, this embodiment of the invention corresponds to that according to FIGS. 1 to 3.

Although our invention has been illustrated and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, we wish to have it understood that it is in no way limited to the details of such embodiments but is capable of numerous modifications within the scope of those skilled in the art.

Having thus fully disclosed our invention, what we claim is:

1. A heel-supporting device for a ski safety binding operable to automatically release during a forward fall of the skier, which includes heel holding means for a ski boot and linkage means connecting the heel holding means with the ski in such a manner that the heel holding means is normally pressed by the linkage means toward the ski under the influence of spring means seeking to press down the heel holding means but is displaced upwardly beyond a dead-center position in the presence of a predetermined, upwardly directed force and thereby releases the heel of the corresponding ski boot, characterized in that said link age means includes a force-locking support means for the heel holding means movable forwardly in the longitudinal direction of the ski, means forming a pair of elements cooperating with each other in a toggle-like manner, one of said pair of elements being arranged at said heel holding means and the other element of said part being arranged at said support means and being acted upon by said spring means in such a manner that said one element passes through a dead-center position in relation to the effective direction of the force of said spring means during an upward movement of said heel holding means.

2. A heel supporting device according to claim 1, wherein said pair of elements are constructed as toggle levers, one of said toggle levers being pivotably connected with said support means and the other of said toggle levers being pivotably connected at said heel holding means.

3. A heel supporting device according to claim 1, wherein said support means includes a pair of bracing arms pivotably connected with each other to form an upwardly directed V-angle, one of said bracing arms being pivotably connected at the ski and the other of said bracing arms being pivotably connected at said heel holding means, and said pair of elements being pivotably connected with said pair of bracing arms in proximity of the pivotal connection between said bracing arms.

4. A heel supporting device according to claim 3, wherein said other bracing arm together with said heel holding means is pivotably connected to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the ski in the pivotal connection of the heel holding means at the ski, the pivotal connection of said one bracing arm at the ski being in proximity to the heel and of said other bracing arm at the heel holding means being disposed to the rear thereof.

5. A heel supporting device according to claim 1, wherein said force-locking support means, which is pressed forwardly in the direction of the boot, is under the effect of one of said spring means.

6. A heel supporting device according to claim 1, further comprising release linkage means operatively connected with said pair of elements which enable lifting of said heel holding means against the effect of said spring means by actuating said pair of elements opposite the said spring effect.

7. A heel holding device according to claim 6, wherein said release linkage means includes a release lever pivotably supported with respect to the ski.

'8. A heel supporting device according to claim 6, wherein said spring means includes a spring supported at said heel holding means at the end opposite the pair of elements.

9. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 6, Wherein said heel holding element forms a casing and surrounds said pair of elements, said spring system and at least a part of said release linkage means, and actuating means partly within said casing and partly projecting therefrom to the outside.

10. A heel supporting device according to claim 1, further comprising release linkage means, and coupling means coupling said release linkage means with said pair of elements in such a manner that with a non-actuated release linkage means, said spring means has substantially no effect on said heel holding means, while upon actuation of said release linkage means, said spring means exerts on said heel holding means a torque acting in the lifting direction which forces the heel holding means together with said one element into the upper release position beyond the dead-center position thereof.

11. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 1, in combination with stop means on at least one of said pair of elements for limiting the extent of the movement of said pair of elements in a setting direction to each other to a position in which said two elements are nearly in a straight alignment with each other so that, when said heel holding element pivots upwardly from said ski, one of said pair of elements is movable against the action of the spring means beyond said dead-center position to a position in which said pair of elements are disposed at an acute angle to each other.

12. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 1, in which said spring means includes a depressing spring, and adjusting means for varying the tension of said spring including a spring support adjustable in the axial direction of said spring.

13. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 1, in which said heel holding element forms a casing having a substantially inverted U-shape, said means for connecting said heel holding element and said pair of elements to said ski including a bearing bracket secured to said ski with a pair of lateral walls covered by said casing when in its downwardly pivoted position, said lateral walls closing toward the outside gap formed between said ski and said element when said element is pivoted upwardly.

14. A heel-supporting device of a ski safety binding comprising a heel-holding element having means for depressing the heel of a ski boot upon the ski, means for pivotably connecting said heel-holding element to said ski so as to be pivotable about an axis etxe'nding trans verse to the ski; means enabling said heel-holding element to move to a limited extent in the longitudinal direction of said ski; bracing means connected to said heel-holding element and movable together with said element in said longitudinal direction relative to said ski; a toggle mechanism comprising two toggle elements movable relative to each other, a first element of said toggle elements being pivotably connected to said bracing means in a pivot point, the second element of said two toggle elements being operatively connected to said heel-holding element and the two toggle elements being in mutual cooperating engagement in such a manner that the direction of the mutual engaging force at the point of engagement forms a variable angle with a line extending through said pivot point and said point of engagement; first resilient means for pressing said heel-holding element together with said bracing means forwardly relative to said ski; and second resilient means acting on said toggle mechanism for pivoting said heel-holding element by said two toggle elements about said transverse axis in a direction beyond a deadcenter position for the second toggle element relative to the direction of force of the second resilient means so as to press said heel-holding element against said ski, said second resilient means acting upon said toggle mechanism in the presence of a releasing force for moving said second toggle element beyond the dead-center position in a releasing direction relative to the direction of force of said second resilient means and for thereby pivoting said heel-holding element upwardly from said ski when a strong, upwardly directed releasing force acts upon said heel-holding element.

15. A heel supporting device of a ski safety binding, comprising a heel holding element, means for pivotably connecting said heel holding element to said ski so as to be pivotable about an axis extending transverse to the ski, means enabling said heel-holding element to move to a limited extent in the longitudinal direction of said ski, bracing means operatively connected to said heel-holding element and movable together with said element in said longitudinal direction relative to said ski, first and second mutually cooperating means forming in effect a toggle mechanism, means for connecting said first means to said bracing means, means connecting the second means to said heel holding element, first resilient means for pressing said heel holding element together with said bracing means forwardly relative to said ski, and second resilient means acting on at least one of said first and second means for pivoting said heel holding element by said toggle mechanism about said transverse axis in a direction beyond a dead-center position for the second means relative to the direction of force of the second resilient means so as to press said heel holding element against said ski, said second resilient means acting upon said one of said first and second means in the presence of a releasing force for moving said second means beyond the dead-center position in a releasing direction relative to the direction of force of said second resilient means and for thereby pivoting said heel holding element upwardly from said ski when a strong, upwardly directed releasing force acts upon said heel holding element.

16. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 15, in combination with stop means on at least one of said first and second means for limiting the extent of the movement of said two last-mentioned means in a setting direction relative to each other to a position in which said two last-mentioned means are nearly in a straight alignment with each other so that, when said heel holding element pivots upwardly from said ski, one of said two lastmentioned means is movable against the action of said resilient means beyond said dead-center position to a position in which said two last-mentioned means are disposed at an acute angle to each other.

17. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 11, in which said heel holding element forms a casing and surrounds said bracing means, said first and second means, said resilient means, and at least a part of a releasing linkage connected to one of said first and second means and movable to reset said first and second means past the deadcenter position in the release direction, and an actuating lever partly within said casing and partly projecting therefrom to the outside.

18. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 15, in which one of said resilient means comprise a depressing spring, and adjusting means for varying the tension of said spring comprising a spring support adjustable in the axial direction of said spring.

19. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 15, in which said heel holding element forms a casing having a substantially inverted U-shape, said means for pivotably connecting said element, said bracing means, and said first and second means to said ski comprising a bearing bracket secured to said ski and having a pair of lateral walls covered by said casing when in its downwardly pivoted position, said lateral wall closing toward the outside the gap formed between said ski and said element when said element is pivoted upwardly.

20. A heel supporting device of a ski safety binding, comprising a heel holding element having means for depressing the heel of a ski boot upon the ski, means for pivotably connecting said element to said ski so as to be pivotable about an axis extending transverse to the ski, means for permitting said element to move to a limited extent in the longitudinal direction of said ski, bracing means connected to said element and moveable together with said element in said longitudinal direction relative to said ski, first and second toggle arms each having tWo ends, means for pivotably connecting one of said ends of each of said toggle arms to each other, means for pivotably connecting the other end of said first toggle arm to said bracing means, means for pivotably connecting the other end of the second toggle arm to said heel holding element, first resilient means for pressing said element together with said bracing means forwardly relative to said ski, and second resilient means acting on said toggle arms for pivoting said element by said pair of toggle arms about said transverse axis in a setting direction beyond a dead-center position for the second toggle arm relative to the direction of force of the second resilient means due to the weight of a skiers boot so as to press said element against said ski, said second resilient means acting upon said pair of toggle arms in the presence of a releasing force for moving said second toggle arm beyond the dead center position in a releasing direction relative to the direction of force of said second resilient means and for thereby pivoting said element upwardly from said ski when a strong upwardly directed releasing force acts upon said element.

21. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 20, in which said first resilient means is interposed between sad heel holding element and said ski and tends to move said element forwardly relative to said ski, and said second resilient depressing means has one end acting upon said element and another end acting upon said pair of toggle arms so as to exert such a leverage relative to said transverse axis that in the set position the element will be pressed by said toggle arms through the action of the second resilient means against said ski.

22. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 20, in which said bracing means comprise a pair of :bracing arms pivotably connected to each other at a V shaped angle an apex pointing upwardly, means. for pivotably connecting one of said bracing arms to said ski, means for pivotably connecting the other bracing arm to said heel holding element, and means for pivotably connecting said first toggle arm which is connected to said bracing means to said pair of bracing arms at a point near said means for pivotably connecting said bracing arms to each other.

23. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 22, in which said means for pivotably connecting one of said bracing arms to said heel holding element includes said means permitting said element to move to a limited extent in said longitudinal direction and are disposed coaixally to said means for pivotably connecting said element to said ski.

24. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 22, in which said means for pivotably connecting said heel holding element to said ski and said means for pivotably connecting one of said bracing arms to said element are disposed toward the rearward end of the heel supporting device beyond said means for pivotably connecting said other bracing arm to said ski, as seen in the direction toward the front end of said ski.

25. A heel depressing device as defined in claim 22, in which at least one of said pair of toggle arms and at least one said pair of bracing arms comprise dual sided elements with portions on each side of the vertical longitudinal central plane of said ski.

2 6. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 20 in which said second resilient means acting upon said pair of toggle arms are connected to one of said toggle arms near the point where said two toggle arms are pivotably connected to each other.

27. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 20, in combination with stop means on at least one of said toggle arms for limiting the extent of the movement of said two toggle arms in a setting direction relative to each other to a position in which said two toggle arms are nearly in a straight alignment with each other so that, when said heel holding element pivots upwardly from said ski, one of said toggle arms is movable against the action of said resilient means beyond said dead-center position to a position in which said two toggle arms are disposed at an acute angle to each other.

28. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 20, in which said second resilient means comprise a resilient depressing means acting at one end upon said pair of toggle arms and at the other end upon said heel holding element so as to press said element by means of said pair of toggle arms against said ski in the set position, in combination with a releasing linkage connected to said toggle arms and movable to reset said toggle arms past the dead-center position in the release direction whereby said toggle arms are released from the action of said resilient depressing means and said element is pivoted up- Wardly from said ski under the action of said resilient depressing means acting upon said element.

29. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 28, in which said releasing linkage comprises an actuating lever, means for pivotably mounting said lever on said ski about said transverse axis of said element, and an arm pivotably connected at one end to said actuating lever and at the other end to said pair of toggle arms at the point of the pivotal connection of said toggle arms to each other.

30. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 28 in which said releasing linkage and said resilient depressing means are connected at an angle relative to said pair of toggle arms so that, when said heel holding element pivots upwardly, the end of said second toggle arm pivotably connected to said element at first moves past a first dead-center position relative to said resilient depressing means and thereafter past a second dead-center position relative to said releasing linkage whereby upon said releasing linkage being released and said pair of toggle arms being moved up to said second dead-center position, said resilient depressing means exert a torque upon said elenient for pivoting the same upwardly.

31. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 28, in which said heel holding element forms a casing and surrounds said bracing means, said pair of toggle arms, said resilient means, and at least a part of said releasing. linkage, in combination with an actuating lever partly within said casing and partly projecting therefrom to the outside.

32. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 20 in which said second toggle arm which is connected to said heel holding element is provided with an extension extending beyond said means for pivotably connecting said toggle arms to each other, said resilient depressing means acting upon the end of said extension.

33. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 20, further comprising a pair of stop means on said pair of toggle arms, one of said stop means limiting the pivoting movement of said toggle arms relative to each other to a maximum angle at which said arms are nearly in straight alignment with each other, and the other stop means limiting the pivoting movement of said toggle arms to a minimum angle.

34. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 20, in which said resilient means comprise a depressing spring, and adjusting means for varying the tension of said spring comprising a spring support adjustable in the axial direction of said spring.

35. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 34, in which said adjustable spring support has an arm adapted to prevent said spring support from turning when said spring support is being adjusted in said axial direction, and indicating means connected to said spring support in combination with markings visible from the outside of said heel holding element for indicating the longitudinal adjustment of said spring support.

36. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 35, in which said heel holding element forms a casing having a slot therein and surrounding at least said depressing spring, said indicating means comprising a resilient element connected to said arm on said spring support and having an indicating member thereon guided within said slot.

37. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 20, in which said heel holding element forms a casing having a substantially inverted U-shape, said means for pivotably connecting said element, said bracing means, and said toggle arms to said ski comprising a bearing bracket secured to said ski and having a pair of lateral walls covered by said casing when in its downwardly pivoted position said lateral walls closing toward the outside the gap formed between said ski and said element when said element is pivoted upwardly.

38. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 37, in which said heel holding element is substantially open at its front end, and further comprising a cover plate covering said open end, and a heel supporting projection and an adjustable heel depressing member secured to said cover plate.

39. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 37, further comprising a base plate carrying said bearing bracket and having longitudinal slots therein, threaded means extending from said ski through said slots for adjustably securing said base plate in different positions to said ski in the longitudinal direction thereof, and means for covering said slots so as to close the same substantially toward the outside.

40. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 39, in which said covering means comprise a cover plate, said base plate and said cover plate having surfaces facing each other, and associated serrations in said surfaces adapted to interengage with each other.

41. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 20, in which said bracing means comprise a guide means movable in the longitudinal direction of said ski, and means for pivotably connecting one of said toggle arms to said guide means.

42. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 41, in which said pair of toggle arms are pivotably connected at an angle to each other having an apex pointing upwardly.

43. A heel supporting device of a ski safety binding comprising a heel holding element having means for depressing the heel of a ski boot upon the ski, means for pivotably connecting said element to said ski so as to be pivotable about an axis extending transverse to the ski, bracing means connected to said element and said ski, first and second toggle arms each having two ends, means for pivotably connecting one of said ends of each of said toggle arms to each other, means for pivotably connecting the other end of said first toggle arms to said bracing means, means for pivotably connecting the other end of said second toggle arm to said element, and resilient means for pivoting said element by said pair of toggle arms about said transverse axis so as to press said element against said ski, said resilient means acting upon said pair of toggle arms for moving said second toggle arm in a setting direction beyond a dead-center position relative to the direction of force of said resilient means due to the weight of a skiers boot, said resilient means acting upon said pair of toggle arms in the presence of a releasing force for moving said second toggle arm beyond the dead-center position in a releasing direction relative to the direction of force of said resilient means, thereby pivoting said element upwardly from said ski when a strong upwardly directed releasing force acts upon said element.

44. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 43, in which said resilient means comprise a resilient depressing means acting at one end upon said pair of toggle arms and at the other end upon said heel holding element so as to press said element 'by means of said pair of toggle arms against said ski in the set position, in combination with a releasing linkage connected to said toggle arms and movable to reset said toggle arms past the dead-center position in the release direction whereby said toggle arms are released from the action of said resilient depressing means and said element is pivoted upwardly from said ski under the action of said resilient depressing means acting upon said element.

45. A heel supporting device as defined in claim 44, in which said heel holding element forms a casing and surrounds said bracing means, said pair of toggle arms, said resilient means, and at least a part of said releasing linkage, in combination with an actuating lever partly within said casing and partly projecting therefrom to the outside.

References Cited 

